O
UTDOOR CONNECTION
NOVEMBER 2016 ESTHERVILLE NEWS Find this publication online at www.esthervillenews.net under ʻSectionsʼ
STORIES, ADVICE AND INFORMATION FOR OUTDOOR LOVERS
THINK SAFETY DURING HUNTING SEASON
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
2
KABELE’S TRADING POST PREPARES FOR ‘SHOP WITH THE PROS 2016’ Ice fishing season is just around the corner, and to help ice anglers get ready for the season, Thane and Tanya Johnson, owners of Kabele’s Trading Post in Spirit Lake, are preparing for their 5th annual Shop with the Pros Day! Scheduled for Saturday, November 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the entire day will be devoted to ice fish� ing. “This will be our fifth annual Shop with the Pros event,� said Tanya. “The day has grown each year with over people coming from several hours away. As always, the event is free.� As the annual event has grown, so has the list of pro staffers and product experts. “For this fifth year event, we are chang� ing things up a little this year. We have so many product experts and pro staffers on hand, along with extra promotions, that we have decided not to have any seminars.� Instead, those in atten� dance will get the oppor� tunity to spend time with the experts. Booths will
up for ice fishing. Tanya said, “We are excited to collaborate with them for not only this special event but throughout the sea� son!�
Kabele’s promotions
“We are excited to be able to offer a wide range of instant rebates and disâ€? STEVE WEISMAN counts on a lot of our ice OUTDOOR EDITOR fishing products,â€? noted be set up all around Thane. “In addition, we Kabele’s Trading Post will also have promos, with experts at each drawings, giveaways and booth ready to visit and special pricings that day.â€? explain their products. Stop in at Kabele’s to see Rods, reels, lures and the entire list or find baits, electronics, shelâ€? Kabele’s ters, clothing, accesâ€? (www.kabeles.com) on sories‌anything “ice fishâ€? the Internet or Facebook ingâ€? will be on display! to see the list of all the What better way to kick deals. A special prize off the ice fishing season drawing will be held at 3 than with a day set aside p.m. just for ice fishing, a day Thul’s West River Meats to meet the pros and the will be offering a $5 experts, to browse and brisket lunch, while look at all the latest ice Okoboji Brewing fishing equipment under Company will also be on one roof! hand for people to samâ€? In addition, Okoboji ple taste their home Indian Motorcycle, a new grown brews. Polaris dealership in the area, will be on hand from Iowa Great Lakes 10 a.m. to noon. They will Fishing Club Fall have Polaris ATV units set Seminar The Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club (IGLFC) will host its annual fall semiâ€? nar meeting on Thursday, November 10 at Godfather’s Pizza in Spencer starting at 6 p.m. Iowa DNR fisheries bioloâ€? ($ " & # gists will be featured # " speakers and talk about the state of fishing in our area lakes. According to Terry Thomsen, club VP, pizza and drinks will be free for all club members and anyâ€? one interested in becomâ€? ing a member can join that evening at the door ' " " !" and join in the supper, ' % ! # ! program and be eligible ' ! ' ! ' for raffle drawings at the end of the evening. Cost
"! %
(!
Thane and Tanya with just a small sample of the ice fishing products that will be on display during the 2016 Shop with the Pros day. Photo by Steve Weisman
of a membership is $20. Thomsen said, “This always a good evening for our members to get together and learn more about the status of our area lakes, ongoing and future projects and what lies ahead for our fish�
eries.� Area legislators have also been invited to attend, and a Q & A ses� sion will give members a chance to ask the legisla� tors questions they might have. The IGLFC strives to pro�
vide recreational and edu� cational activities to sup� port the improvement of our fisheries, recruitment of youth and adults to the sport, and to promote positive contributions to the environment and our community.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
3
Edge of fields preliminary results BY STEVE WEISMAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
Early last spring, I wrote about the Edge of Field practice that landowners/farmers can implement to help take care of as much as 90 percent of the runoff from their crop ground. To me, it was an excit‐ ing concept that would be a win‐win situa‐ tion for landowners as they protect the most sensitive land while at the same time still are able to farm the majority of their land. In a discussion by Dr. Helmers of Iowa State University, he noted, “Based on our water quality monitoring at other sites in Iowa, we see a drastic reduction in sediment and nutrient loss with runoff in areas where prairie strips have been incor‐ porated.” At that time, I learned that Eric and Kelly Hoien, who own farmland on the east side of Big Spirit Lake, were the first landown‐ ers to try this practice in this area. As a matter of fact, in November of 2015, Hoien had seeded approximately 25 acres into a mix of tall prairie grasses and forbes (wild‐ flowers) with the idea of helping eliminate runoff that eventually made it into Big Spirit Lake. The forbes are also part of the
pollinator project, which is designed to attract butterflies, honeybees and a wide range of songbirds. Throughout this past summer, every few weeks I would drive by just to see how the seeding was taking hold. It was amazing to watch the progression as plants began to grow. Certainly, to begin with, there were weeds, but they were readily con‐ trolled. In visiting with Eric, he was happy with the way things have turned out. “I really think that mowing the new seeding four times helped keep the weeds down and also helped let light get down to the prairie grass. Of course, I do think it helped to get all of the timely rains that we received. We will probably mow it two more times next year to continue to help with the weeds, and then we will let it go.” To see how things are working, two autosamplers were installed, one at the leading edge of the prairie strip (as it comes off the cropped area) and the sec‐ ond at the exit of the prairie strip (after it leaves the prairie). The one at the leading edge has shown a lot of sediment that has
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run off the farm ground to the leading edge of the prairie strip. The good news is that the prairie strip has stopped that from running down to the culverts at the road and run‐ ning into the lake. As for the A look at the new seeding after the first yearʼs growth. Based on results from other Edge of Fields sites, this second autosampler, Eric should mean a drastic reduction in sediment and notes that even with the Spirit Lake. amount of rain this past sum‐ nutrient loss with runoff into Big Photo by Steve Weisman) mer, there hasn’t been Eric recently went to a Strips Symposium enough water run across the sampler to in Coon Rapids and was really impressed activate it. with what this type of practice can mean Although it is too early to tell for sure, for both landowners and our area streams hopefully, this means that the grass strip and lakes. A number of “test” site data is doing its job. It should be even more was discussed, and the results were pronounced over the course of the next extremely positive. Sediment and nutrient few years. Once established, the native export was significantly reduced, and the prairie grass deep root structure will act as established prairie strips were having a a sponge, when the water begins to run positive impact on water quality. off. The root structure is so massive that it Eric also noted that this practice is a will take care of a huge amount of water. demonstration site for other landowners As a result, much of it will never leave the to see how the process works and how field. Thus, the prairie will intercept and the landowner can protect the environ‐ infiltrate the water – in this case before it ment and still be able to farm the majority ever reaches the culverts or Reeds Run, of the land. which borders the field to the south.
Best wishes for a safe and successful harvest season!
Curt Smith
Cody Newgard
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
4
Spoon t weaking perch BY JASON MITCHELL
Few lures can be as effective day in and day out for jumbo perch as spoons. This lure catego‐ ry packs weight, flash and water displacement into the presenta‐ tion. Spoons can be seen and one aspect of finding fish is making sure that the fish can find you. An easy to find profile not only pulls fish in but can also raise fish further off the bottom and the higher you can lift perch, the easi‐ er they are to catch. Day in and day out, I find myself using some type of spoon when‐ ever I am looking for perch or hunting down schools of aggres‐ sive fish. Spoons can shine when‐ ever you need to eliminate water or are in a situation where the battle is simply finding fish know‐ ing that if you can hunt these fish down… you will catch them. What can make winter perch fishing challenging is the some‐ what randomness of their loca‐ tion and the fact that these fish are often moving. Perch can often be found relating to some type of definite edge but when schools of fish start roaming expansive flats and basins, there is a certain unpredictable ness where you have to be willing to drill holes in order to find fish. Perch can also range dramatically in aggressiveness from reckless‐ ness to demanding finesse. While tough bites can demand small tungsten jig profiles or even dead stick presentations, many bites can be discovered and maxi‐ mized by using spoons.
The author Jason Mitchell discusses some spoon nuances for targeting jumbo perch this winter. Mitchell hosts the popular outdoor program Jason Mitchell Outdoors, which airs on Fox Sports North (9 a.m. Sunday) and Fox Sports Midwest (9:30 a.m. Saturday). Mitchel spent many years as a waterfowl guide near Devils Lake, ND and also hosts Passion for the Hunt. More information can be found online at www.jasonmitchelloutdoors.com.
maximize my fishing time but also drops straight down without swaying to the edge of the cone angle so I can watch the spoon on my electronics through the entire descent. The Clam Tackle Speed Spoon was designed specifically for this application. This particular spoon drops through the water fast and drops straight down without any drift and features a short dropper chain which is deadly for combin‐ ing a little bit of finesse to the presentation. On hotter bites, replace the chain with a treble hook. I find that my batting aver‐ age is better if I use a treble hook whenever tipping with anything that has bulk like a minnow head, perch eye (where legal) or a Makki XL Minnow. Besides adding some weight for pounding the mud along with profile and flash, a spoon also essentially works as a delivery Deep Water Exploration system for your bait whether you Spoons can shine over deep are using soft plastics, water for a variety of reasons. Deep water is often darker so the Eurolarvae, a minnow or some larger profile and flash of a spoon other type of live bait. With that being said, I often find myself can be seen from further away. Most of the time in water deeper changing hooks on the spoon to maximize the efficiency of the than twenty feet, I like to use a presentation. When finesse lead spoon that drops fast to requires wax worms or
Photo submitted
Eurolarvae, I often stick with the chain dropper but switch hooks when I can. I have the mentality that I am going to use the largest hook I can get away with because when you hook fish on a larger hook, you can reel the fish up faster and put a lot more leverage on the fish and also unhook the fish faster. Another deep‐water spoon tac‐ tic we pioneered many years ago is a method we call “bottom dragging” which shines whenev‐ er fish are keying on inverte‐ brates in the mud. If you catch perch that have mud in their gills or really pink gills and pink scales on the belly, those fish are rub‐ bing on the bottom. The bottom dragging technique requires a spoon like the Clam Tackle Blade Spoon that does drift to the side of the hole when fished over deeper water. To maximize the drift, let the spoon free fall to the side of the hole as far as possible. When the spoon hits the bottom, slowly drag the spoon back towards the center of the hole. I find that I often do better with this technique if I tie about a six‐inch dropper below the spoon. The drag has to be slow and tedious. We have seen
this presentation shine on tough bites where the fish won’t accel‐ erate toward the presentation or lift off the bottom.
Running and Gunning Shallow Water The nuances of finding perch changes in less than ten feet of water. Flutter spoons can really shine particularly in clear water. There are times when we see perch respond to a spoon as soon as it clears the bottom of the hole in really clear water. I also find myself incorporating soft plastics with a single hook spoon much more so in shallow water or in some cases not using any bait at all. Shallow water fish are notorious for being more aggressive so your presentation and strategy should reflect the attitude of the fish. So often, shallow water demands even more mobility as it seems like ninety percent of the fish can be caught in ten percent windows… where you have to simply eliminate water and find that hot hole or two each day where you can wind up on the fish. When you finally find the fish, you are on them where mul‐ tiple fish are stacked up below
and you literally have a fish on as soon as you get back down. The key to catching fish is simply find‐ ing them and than being as effi‐ cient as possible so you catch as many fish as possible before you lose them. On these torrid shallow water bites, I like the efficiency of a large gap single hook. No split ring or treble hook, use a fixed hook spoon like the Clam Tackle Blade Jig where a larger hook is molded into the spoon. This sin‐ gle hook accomplishes a couple of things… you can load up a soft plastic or more bait on to the hook but also the larger hook allows you to reel the fish up faster and allows you to unhook the fish much faster which speeds up your turn around time. I will even go so far as to bend out the hook and pinch down the barb so I can get fish unhooked even faster. I will also use heavier line and a stiffer rod just so I can crank the fish up as fast as possi‐ ble as the name of the game is maximizing your opportunities. One of my favorite presenta‐ tions over shallow water is to horizontally rig a Makki XL Minnow on to a Blade Jig. We filmed an episode on Lake Winnibigoshish a few winters ago with this presentation and the number of fish you can catch on a soft plastic is staggering. Again, you make yourself more efficient by being able to get fish unhooked faster and not having to rebait.
Additional Considerations As a general rule of thumb, we rely more so on glow colors and gold over deeper water or when‐ ever light penetration is less. Chromes, metallic and realistic finishes can often shine over deeper water but color is some‐ times over rated in that there are many variables and factors that are usually much more impor‐ tant. The most important factor is finding the fish and being effi‐ cient with the bites and how you manage the school. Match the spoon profile and characteristics with the water and don’t be afraid to make additional tweaks to hook size to maximize your efficiency on the ice this winter.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
THINK SAFETY DURING THE HUNTING SEASON BY STEVE WEISMAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
According to the Iowa DNR, an esti‐ mated 60,000 hunters took to the field on the pheasant opener. With all of the excitement and in many instances some large hunting parties that take place during the pheasant season, the Iowa DNR is sharing this information about hunter safety. Most importantly, hunters heading to the field this season are encour‐ aged to review safe hunting practices before they head out. Always make sure that all hunters know, no matter how old they are, what is expected as far as safe hunting is concerned. Megan Wisecup, hunter education administrator with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, said hunters should get reacquainted with the techniques used to hunt pheasants – be sure to walk in a straight line and know where mem‐ bers of the hunting party are at all times, especially in low visibility areas like terraces, tall switch grass and standing corn. “Go through the zones of fire with each member of the hunting party, talk about avoiding target fixation and swinging on game,” Wisecup said. “Wear plenty of blaze orange especially on the upper one third of
Tips for a safe hunt
n Iowa law requires hunters to wear at least one of the following arti‐ cles of visible, external apparel with at least 50 percent of its surface area solid blaze orange: hat, cap, vest, coat, jacket, sweatshirt, shirt or coveralls. n Hunters should stay in communication with each other and to stay in a straight line while pushing a field. n Discuss the hunting plan that spells out how the hunt will take place, each person’s role in the hunt and where each person will be at all times. n Know exactly where standers will be located, especially when hunt‐ ing standing corn or tall switch grass to avoid having the standers get shot by the pushers as they near the end of the field and the birds begin to flush. n Make sure to unload the gun when crossing a fence or other obstacle to avoid it accidentally discharging. n Properly identify the target and what is beyond it especially if hunt‐ ing in fields that still have standing corn. n If hunting with a dog, never lay a loaded gun against a fence. Hunting dogs are usually excited to be in the field and could knock the gun over causing it to discharge. n Share the hunt. Take someone new along to help keep Iowa’s great hunting tradition alive. your body. We are encouraging hunters to wear more blaze orange than the minimum required. The goal is to be seen by other hunters. “The top pheasant hunting inci‐ dents all are related to not being seen. The shooter swings on a roos‐ ter, the victim is out of sight of the shooter or the rooster flew between
the shooter and the victim.” Wisecup said safety also extends to the canine companions. “Avoid low shots to prevent injuring your hunting dog,” she said. “The hunting plan and safety practices are all part of a responsible hunt. The goal at the end of the day is for everyone to return home safely.”
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Iowa furbearer season begins Nov. 5 DES MOINES - Iowa fur harvesters will find good numbers of raccoons, muskrats, beaver, coyotes, bobcats, river otters and mink when the furbearer trapping and hunting season opens on Nov. 5. “Population-wise, all species are doing pretty well except for gray fox,” said Vince Evelsizer, furbearer biologist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Trappers who like to pursue muskrats should find better numbers on area marshes this year. All indications show better muskrat numbers in many parts of the state for the second year in a row, which is great news, he said. “Itʼs still not what is used to be in some areas, but definitely an improvement. Muskrats are a bread-and-butter species for Iowa trappers, but the population has been on a downward trend for the past 25 years or so. So itʼs good
to see their numbers rebound some,” Evelsizer said.
the number of furharvesters per capita.”
Prices down
Furharvesters are no longer required to obtain a permit to hold furs for sale after the season closes on Jan. 31, 2017.
What hasnʼt come back is the fur market outlook – fur prices remain low. The number of fur harvesters fluctuates with the market prices and for the third year in a row, the fur market outlook is poor. “We gained about 2,000 furharvesters per year from 2009 through 2013, and then lost about 2,000 furharvesters per year from 2014 through 2015,” said Evelsizer. He expects the decrease in trappers to continue for the 2016-17 season. “This is a good year to spend time with youth or older adults trapping, coon hunting, or predator hunting. Itʼs a great way to spend time together in the outdoors, regardless of the fur market,” he said. “On the positive side, we are still one of the top five states in the nation for
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Otter, Bobcat Reminder Furharvesters are reminded that it is important that they turn in the lower jaw or skull of any otter and bobcat they harve. “This enables us to extract a tooth for aging and monitor the age distribution of otters and bobcats. This information helps assess the feasibility of possible changes to the otter or bobcat harvest season,” said Evelsizer. A map of the counties open to bobcat harvest is on p. 20 in the Iowa Hunting and Trapping Regulations book available at license vendors and on the Iowa DNRʼs website at www.iowadnr.gov/huntingregs.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
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years so enjoyable," Jensen added. In 2014, Jensen was joined by long‐ time Minnesota fishing guide and fish‐ ing educator Mike Frisch in co‐hosting Fishing the Midwest television. Fishing the Midwest continues to be one of the leaders in fishing education. To learn more about Fishing the Midwest visit www.fishingthemidwest.com. Located in Hayward, Wisconsin the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame is the international headquarters for educa‐ tion, recognition, and promotion of fresh water sportfishing, with the fol‐ Bob Jensen lowing mission: for Excellence in Outdoor "To develop and maintain the Fresh Programming presented by various Water Fishing Hall of Fame and its outdoor organizations. museum for the preservation and dis‐ •written and hosted The Outdoor play of historical artifacts of fresh Minute radio show, which airs 50 water sportfishing. We strive to con‐ times a week in Jensen’s home state of Iowa and has been on the air, in var‐ duct and maintain a program for the recognition of persons, organizations ious forms, for 12 years. and institutions who have made signifi‐ n presented nearly 1,000 fishing cant and lasting contributions to the seminars at sport shows and other sport and heritage of fresh water fish‐ outdoor events during his career. ing. We conduct and maintain a pro‐ n co‐founder of the largest and gram for qualifying, compiling and longest running walleye tournament in publishing all fresh water sportfishing Iowa. records. The Fresh Water Fishing Hall "I'm truly honored to be inducted of Fame maintains a library that dis‐ into the Fishing Hall of Fame," Jensen seminates information and acts as the said when asked about his upcoming clearing house for historical and con‐ induction. "I'm so fortunate to have temporary publications for the fresh been able to fish and explore so many water sportfishing industry. The Fresh waters across the Midwest. The Water Fishing Hall of Fame institutes biggest reward to my career in the programs to foster, maintain and fishing/marine industry though, is the improve our environment for future opportunity I've had to work with so generations through promotion and many really good people. It's the peo‐ education." ple that have made the past 30 plus
Celebrate your birds and 30 years of Project Feeder Watch
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SHEFFIELD — Fishing the Midwest was recently informed that Bob Jensen, founder of Fishing the Midwest, has been selected for 2017 induction to the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. Jensen will join over 300 individuals and organizations that have been inducted and enshrined to the Hall of Fame since 1980. A native of Sheffield, Iowa, Bob Jensen began fishing as a young boy and started his career in the fishing industry as a Camp Fish instructor in northern Minnesota. Jensen was also a guide and tournament angler in his early years. From those roots, Jensen went on to a career as a television and radio show host, noted outdoor writer, and popu‐ lar fishing seminar presenter. Some of highlights of his career include: n co‐author of four top‐selling books on walleye fishing n author of fishing columns and “how to” fishing stories have been published over 150,000 times in gener‐ al circulation newspapers, outdoor magazines/newspapers. n produced and hosted over 300 full‐ length fishing television shows. These shows appear(ed) on network affili‐ ates and cable carriers throughout the Midwest. In many markets, Fishing the Midwest continues to be the high‐ est rated outdoor show in that mar‐ ket. n Fishing the Midwest has been the recipient of approximately 30 awards
ITHACA, N.Y. — One Northern Cardinal, Carolina Chickadee, or Tufted Titmouse at a time, Project FeederWatch participants are making new scientific discoveries possible. This long-running citizen-science project has amassed decades of information about winter feeder birds across the United States and Canada. The 30th season of FeederWatch kicks off on Nov. 12. "We have such loyal participants," says project leader Emma Greig at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "Some have been with us for all 30 years. Weʼre going to be recognizing this level of longterm dedication to the project during this milestone year."
More than 20,000 participants report species counts at their feeders during periodic two-day watches through early April. These counts add up to a lot of information, and after 29 years of watching, FeederWatchers have helped scientists discover the expanded ranges of some species because of climate change, track the spread of disease, and predict periodic mass movements of birds, called "irruptions." "The data become more valuable the longer they are collected," says Greig. "You need to collect data before and after an unusual event in order to really understand its impact. FeederWatch observations have driven our dis-
coveries about the spread of House Finch eye disease and the explosion of the invasive Eurasian Collared-Doves from Florida all the way to Alaska." Many FeederWatchers are quick to say the project is not a one-way street. They get a lot in return for simply doing what they love. "I love being a part of Project FeederWatch," says Diane Aman from Southfield, Michigan. "I've been watching and counting birds for 15 years now and it has become a source of daily joy, entertainment, excitement, and learning. Even on days that have been 'tough,' I can count on my feathered friends to lift my spirits, make me smile, and brighten my outlook."
Wild Birds Unlimited is helping FeederWatch celebrate the 30th season. As a special thank-you to FeederWatchers, Wild Birds Unlimited is offering $15 off any $50 purchase at their stores. They will also be providing prizes for the annual BirdSpotter Photo Contest, which will have some new twists this year: you donʼt have to be a photographer to enter the contest during some weeks. You just have to be a FeederWatcher! Learn more about the contest at feederwatch.org/birdspotter. To learn more about joining Project FeederWatch and to sign up online, visit FeederWatch.org.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
STEWARDSHIP TIP: Tune your auger BY BEN LEAL RECYCLED FISH PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Social media is buzzing with ice anglers anticipating the upcoming ice fishing season. New baits, rods, reels and every accessory you can think of is being talked about. And then thereʼs the countdown…ice heads are making predictions on where and when there will be first ice. Even as the excitement and preparations begin, take time to tune up your augers. Replace the spark plug: Replace your spark plug with the type recommended by the manufacturer or use an acceptable substitute. Check and set the electrode gap before you install the spark plug and check it throughout the season. Make sure to set the gap according to the manufacturerʼs recommendation. Check the electrodes throughout the season and replace the plug if you find pitting, fouling, carbon buildup, or burning. Also, check the porcelain and replace the plug if it is cracked. Replace the air filter: Replace the air filter with a new filter. In some cases, you can remove the filter and knock any crud off by tapping on the sides of the filter. If your engine is running low with a properly adjusted carburetor, you air filter is probably clogged and should be replaced. If your engine uses an oiled-foam filter, clean it in a water and detergent solution. Donʼt dump the solution down the drain when you are done, though. Save it and take it to your local household hazardous waste facility. When you oil your foam filter, press out and capture the excess. Use the left over oil next time around. User the proper fuel/oil mix: Check the manual for your engine and do not exceed the recommended mix. For most augers, the ratio is in the neighborhood of 40:1 (3.2 fluid ounces of two-cycle engine oil to 1 gallon of gas). Fuel that is
heavy in oil will cause the engine to run hot. Make sure to use fresh gasoline, again following the recommendations in your ownerʼs manual. Most engine manufacturers recommend unleaded regular or unleaded premium. Check all your hoses and make sure that they are secure and donʼt leak. Look for any wear and replace any hoses if necessary. Also, make sure your fuel cap is secure, test and replace it if necessary. Test setting your auger on its side and make sure that it doesnʼt leak. If you take these steps now, before you get on the ice, your auger will burn fuel efficiently. Thatʼs important for our fish. Consider an alternative: Electric augers are finally coming into their own; theyʼve made the leap from novelty to a mainstream product through advancements and innovation. When it comes to stewarding our waters well, we know that our choices matter. CLAM, Vexilar, ION, and Strikemaster all have introduced the industry to electric augers. They do come with some downsides, but generally fewer than gas augers. Recycled Fish put together a comparison a couple years ago, take a look and give these options some consideration when heading out this coming ice fishing season. http://www.recycledfish.org/blog/recycledfish/electric-auger-comparison/ Whether you use gas or electric on the ice, the main goal is to have the least amount of impact on our environment so that generations to come will be able to enjoy the resources we have here in Iowa. Taking time to prepare now will lessen any accidental spills or problems that can be detrimental to our fisheries. Remember that stewardship is everyoneʼs responsibility and itʼs something that is passed down from one generation to another. What we do on and off the water matters to our fish…tight lines!
Avoid fall tillage this fall DES MOINES — Fall tillage practices, even reduced tillage techniques such as disking and chisel plowing, can eliminate important winter food and cover for many wildlife species in Iowa. According to Todd Bogenschutz, wildlife research biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, waste grains and crop residue remaining in untilled crop fields follow-
ing harvest provide important food and cover for species such as pheasants, quail, partridge, turkey, and deer. “Studies of harvested untilled crop fields show wildlife consume 55-85 percent of the waste corn and soybeans between fall harvest and the following spring,” Bogenschutz said. Research shows even reduced tillage methods, such as disking and chisel
plowing, reduce waste grains available to wildlife by 80 percent and reduce crop stubble by 50 percent or more. Farmers and landowners can leave a free food plot for wildlife by simply not fall plowing their fields, said Bogenschutz, no till farming is a great way to leave food and cover for wildlife. Leaving stubble is also a great way to capture soil moisture for next year.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
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Fishing thoughts from 2016 BY BOB JENSEN FISHING THE MIDWEST FISHING TEAM
In the 70ʼs, walleyes from Clear Lake in north central were unheard of. Today, walleyes like this one that Kevan Paul caught in Clear Lake are everyday catches. Photo by Bob Jensen
It appears that my 2016 open water fishing season is coming to a close: It may even be over, although I hope to get in another quick trip or two. This year, like all other years, I have learned and relearned a good num‐ ber of things related to fishing. Following are some of those things. I truly believe that, for the most part, fishing continues to improve across the Midwest. I had fantastic fishing action on Clear Lake in north central Iowa this spring. When I was a young angler in the 70’s, Clear Lake was a bullhead lake: Walleyes were far and few between and muskies weren’t a part of the ecosystem. Today, bullheads are rare, walleyes are abundant, and muskies are as common as muskies get. The lake itself has improved dramatically due to dredging and water quality improvement. My most recent trip to Kabetogama Lake in northern Minnesota was another reason for optimism. Mostly when I visit Kab, and I get there annually, we chase walleyes with outstanding success. Last year I was introduced to Kab’s crappies, and that was a win. This year we decided to focus on small‐ mouth bass. That was nothing but the best. Big ones, little ones, and in‐ between ones. The future for Kab’s smallmouth, and fishing in general, is tremendous. That’s not to say there aren’t prob‐ lems in some places. Over‐harvest can and will goof up a good thing, and we need to be aware of that. In some places, panfish sizes are down due to anglers keeping too many big ones. Same thing with northern pike: If we keep too many six and eight pounders, we’re not going to see the fifteen to seventeen pounders.
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FACEBOOK.COM/FISHINGTHEMIDWEST And we certainly need to get things figured out on some lakes regarding the number of walleyes that can be harvested safely. We need to get our arms around what’s best for fishing in the 21st century going forward and, being respectful to all involved, move on from bad past policies. Fishing techniques continue to evolve and improve. Planer boards just a few years ago were tools pri‐ marily for salmon, trout, and walleyes. In just the past couple of years, we’ve experienced outstand‐ ing results using boards for perch and crappies. Boards really will put more fish in the boat, and the folks at Off Shore Tackle recognize this. That’s why they continually tweak their boards for specific applications. Just when we think boards are as good as they’re going to get, Off Shore comes up with an improve‐ ment. Improvements and tweaking apply to pretty much all of the equipment that we use. Rods that are of higher quality than rods just a few years ago are less expensive. Sonar contin‐ ues to reveal more and better detail, and the mapping incorporated into today’s sonar is incredibly helpful in catching fish and navigating. And there’s more to come. Lures and lines and boats also con‐ tinue to improve, as does the cloth‐ ing that keeps us warm and dry on the water. So many equipment improvements and, in many places, so many fish. I’m already looking forward to open water fishing in 2017.